Dua for Travelling in a Car: Arabic, Transliteration and Meaning

Sufyan Amjad

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ showed us how to acknowledge Allah’s power and support as we travel by repeating the same supplication with each journey. Though the medium of travel may have changed, we can continue to benefit from the Prophet’s practice by using this dua when travelling by car. It includes the text in Arabic, an English translation and transliteration, provides guidance on when to say it, and offers other duas that enhance peace of mind while on the road.

Duas for Travelling by Car

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

Allahu Akbar (3 times). Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.

The dua for travel by car begins by saying ‘Allahu akbar’ (God is greater) three times. Next, it includes Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:13-14). The Prophet ﷺ was observed to recite this Surah whenever he mounted his animal for travel. Therefore, many scholars have also concluded that it is appropriate to recite this Surah when travelling by car, plane, train, or any other means of transportation. Often, when people search for the dua for travel by car, they use the spelling “dua for travelling by car,” and they both mean the same thing.

Car Travel Dua: Full Arabic Text

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ

This travel dua for travel by car includes the following longer supplication reported in Sahih Muslim, in which the traveller is seeking to beseech Allah to bestow upon him piety and goodness and to protect him and facilitate for him a safe return. Because it contains the practice of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, it is also referred to as the travelling dua for car or the car travelling dua.

Transliteration and English Meaning

Full transliteration:

Allahu Akbar (3 times).

Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.

Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu’dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’tha’is-safar, wa ka’abatil-manzar, wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.

Meaning:

Allah is the Greatest. Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have done it ourselves. To our Lord we shall return. O Allah, we ask You are on this journey for goodness and piety and for deeds that please You. Make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance. You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of our family. I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a sorrowful sight on return, and from an evil outcome in wealth and family.

Dua Before Travelling in a Car

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

This dua is said on foot at the front door of your house. Say this dua as you walk out the door. The hadith in Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi say that if you say this dua, you will be guided, protected, and defended. It is common practice to say two rak’ahs and to give a small charity before long trips. Saying Bismillah and starting the engine simultaneously as you leave the driveway is permitted.

Dua When Travelling in a Car

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ

This dua can be said at any time during the journey. Say this dua after you have settled into your seat with your seat belt on. Taking precautions and trusting Allah go hand in hand. The travel dua asks Allah for many things, including safety, patience, and peace. If something takes a long time to say, or if the dua is repeated by someone other than yourself, pay special attention to what you are saying and what is being said. For the driver especially, saying the dua of Musa will bring peace of mind. It is a great dua for all members of the family to say together. Say the travel dua frequently.

Travelling Dua in a Car for the Whole Family

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي

Rabbi ishrah li sadri wa yassir li amri. (“My Lord, expand my chest and make my task easy for me.”)

You really feel the effects of long road trips. The dua for travelling is great for road trip stress and fatigue. It can give you peace of mind and help you pass the time with dhikr. Remember to repeatedly make dua, especially if you are travelling for work and other stressful engagements. The hadith states that the dua of the traveller is the most accepted, so feel free to make as many as you like during your trip. You can ask for anything and travel with a stress-free mind.

Dua for Travelling in a Car for Long Drives

اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ

Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu’dah.

Dua during travels allows the driver to fully focus on driving and passengers to say dhikr, dua, and salawat quietly. Women and children can also take this opportunity to say Traveller’s Dua.

ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ: دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ

This hadith is reported in Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. Use the drive to ask for forgiveness, guidance and every need you have.

Dua While Travelling in Car: Dhikr on the Road

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi, subhanallahil-‘azim.

The dua while travelling in a car does not have to stop after the main supplication. Passengers can recite dhikr, istighfar and salawat quietly, while the driver keeps full attention on the road. If you are the driver, keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, and let the passengers lead the recitation. You can also listen to a Quran recitation in the background.

The Prophet’s guidance for slopes is also useful on hilly roads: say “Allahu Akbar” (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ) when going up and “Subhanallah” (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ) when going down.

Dua for Safe Travel and Protection on the Road

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

A’udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq. (“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.”)

Travellers can say the following dua when leaving a place and coming back. It protects a traveler from all harm until they return to their starting point. All travellers can also say Ayat al-Kursi, the Duas of Sunrise and Sunset, as they set out.

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ

Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-hayyul-qayyum, la ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm (Quran 2:255).

Other Useful Duas for Road Trips

رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا

Rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqin wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqin waj’al li min ladunka sultanan nasira (Quran 17:80).

This Quranic prayer for entering and leaving well suits every departure and arrival. You can also say “Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal-wakil” (حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ) when the road is difficult or traffic is stressful.

Dua on Returning Home

آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ

Ayibuna ta’ibuna ‘abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun. (“We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.”)

When the Prophet ﷺ returned from a journey, he repeated the travel dua and added these words. Say it to them as you arrive home, and thank Allah for a safe return.

Practical Tips for Muslim Drivers and Passengers

Prayer times: Fasting travellers can shorten their prayers, and travellers can combine Friday and Jummah prayers. Make every effort to stop and pray on time. Set out only when you have performed Wudu’.
Safety first: Combine caution and faith. Put on your seatbelt, take breaks while driving, and never drive while distracted. Caution is an extension of faith.
Leave with good manners: Take the appropriate steps to ensure you leave with good manners. Pay debts and seek forgiveness, and travel with the company of good people.
Dua for others: Make du’a for your family. Seek Allah’s protection for them when they are away.

Conclusion

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى

Learn this short and beautiful du’a for travelling by car. Make it part of your routine before a long journey, and add your personal du’a for protection while driving.